ST. CLOUD, Minn. -- The Augustana volleyball team proved to be a worthy opponent but couldn't outlast No. 23 St. Cloud State in St. Cloud, Minnesota, on Friday night, falling in a five-set thriller, 3-2.
The Vikings move to 5-4 and 0-1 in the loop, while the Huskies go to 6-3 and 1-0 in conference play.
Despite claiming sets three and four to force the No. 23 Huskies to a fifth set, St. Cloud State outlasted the Vikings winning the fifth set to claim the match.
Augustana found itself down two sets after the Huskies claimed set one, 25-22 and won the second set 25-16.
With its backs against the wall, the Vikings found a way, Augustana came out hot in the third set grabbing a convincing lead with a service ace from Erika Bute giving the Vikings a 7-2 lead, capping off a four-point run.
The Huskies began showing life halfway through the set, garnering a run of their own to bring the set to within one at 15-14.
The Vikings had a hard-fought set, just edging St. Cloud State down to the wire. An enormous kill from Kate Reimann put Augustana in the driver's seat at match point, 24-22.
The Huskies would garner a kill but not before Maddy Guetter, who led the Vikings in the set with seven kills, dealt the final blow to claim set three, 25-23.
St. Cloud State came out with purpose in the fourth set, not giving the Vikings much room for error as they held a two-point lead at 9-7.
From there, Augustana put together a seven-point run with kills from Reimann, Payton Rosendahl accounting for two, and Callie Hohenahus earning the final kill to end the streak, 14-9.
The Vikings would maintain the lead the remainder of the fourth set, with the Huskies' closest attempts still three points shy of a tie on numerous occasions.
Freshman Jolie Stecher claimed arguably her biggest kill in her short career, earning the Vikings set four to keep the Vikings in the match, 25-21.
Augustana's comeback fell short in the fifth and final set against the Huskies. Despite Guetter accumulating two more kills to elevate her career-high to 21 kills, the Vikings were defeated in the fifth set 15-6.
Augustana was led by Guetter with 21 kills, Thorson with 57 assists and Bute garnering 24 digs.
The Huskies were led by Kenzie Foley with 25 kills also leading in digs and Maddy Torve with 50 assists.
Up Next
The Vikings have a trip to Duluth, Minnesota, to take before returning to Sioux Falls. Augustana plays No. 16 Duluth Saturday, slated for a 2 p.m. start.
--GoAugie.com--
